bad reaction to formula - what to do?!

DD is mainly breastfed but has one formula feed a week when she sees nanny. So far shes had around about 6 formula feeds. All feeds have been fine, except for the last two...

Last week when she had it she was so sick that we had to take her to the hospital with dehydration - she was fine again once I breastfed her in the children's ward at half 10pm! Nothing major happened at the hospital, just checked over. The doctor recommended that next time she had formula, to stop the bottle half way through to give her a chance to burp and digest the milk before giving her the second half. So today thats what nanny did! However, just like last time, she was badly sick, three smaller sick ups rather than a massive one like last time. She was really white, very sleepy and refused her bedtime feed last time, today she was a little pale again and generally sleepy - she had a small amount of breastmilk at bedtime then went straight to sleep. I'm expecting her to wake sometime in the night wanting a feed...

Question is why is is reacting so badly to the formula milk, when the previous 4 FF went fine with no issues? The only thing that I used to notice when was having a FF was that she could go a bit longer til the next feed compared to if she was being breastfed as normal - I just assumed that FF filled her up more!

I really need to have the option of FF so nanny can look after her! I don't produce enough expressed milk to be able to give her that.

Has anyone's LO had problems with their FF? Should I be changing the brand? I don't like seeing her miserable!xxx

Yes, my DS2 was BF and when i started giving formula every now and then he would be sick. My HV advised me to use a different formula, so i started using Aptamil. He was fine with that. My first son was FF and id had to take him off Aptamil, so i think it depends on the baby

I would maybe try a different brand and if it still happens could you maybe express an oz or so every day and give that??

I can't really express the milk because I give her my mornings expressed milk at bedtime so that hubby gets to do a feed with her. I suppose I could express at another time and store that batch, but I'm worried that I won't have enough milk for the rest of the day - I feel empty enough as it is come bedtime!!

milk is supply and demand anyway, so you should still be fine. but i did read this week about putting expressed milk in an ice tray as each square is roughly 1 fl oz, then putting the frozen cubes in a freezer bag, that way you defrost the amount you need when you need it. have not tried it though, but thought it an interesting idea as i dont always express the same amount.

Her reaction to formula sounds quite similar to what happens with my lo. She is bf and had formula tops ups in the early weeks which she kept down fine. Then a few months later I gave a bottle and within an hour she vomitting for hours even bringing up bile, she was very limp and could not stay awake. This happened again when she had formula so of course we stopped giving her that. But she also had the smae reaction to anything containing the smallest amount of cows milk. So now she has soya milk in her cereal, which causes no issues. We are seeing a Dr next week to test her for a milk protein intolerance/allergy. I hope this is not the case for your lo but it's something to keep an eye on. As with feeling empty in the evenings, this is so normal but I promise if you keep feeding her your supply will match your babys needs.